13 NORTHLAND ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace three storey three bay red-brick late-Victorian Arts-and-Crafts style townhouse with rendered dressings, built in 1900 (Architect unknown). Rectangular plan form facing West with a four storey rendered return built at half-landing height stepping down to a three storey extension and a two-storey brick outbuilding to the rear. One of a terrace of three buildings situated on an elevated site to the East side of the Northland Road, built turn-of-the century in 1899-1900; No's 13 and 15 were built at the same time as each other and are similar in style and character to No.11 (HB01/22/029A) which was built in 1899, though they differ slightly in detailing.

Pitched artificial slate roof covering continuous with adjoining property No. 15 Northland Road (HB01/22/029C) has terracotta clay ridge tiles with a large red brick chimney stack with buff clay pots centred on ridge, rising from the North elevation. Stepped brick detail to eaves; moulded uPVC guttering and circular uPVC downpipe to front elevation.

Front elevation (W) has a slightly projecting pedimented bay to the left side with a single storey three-sided canted bay on ground floor level with a solid rendered recessed panelled parapet; first and second floors have paired windows centred over ground floor bay window and a single window bay centred over the doorway; the tympanum of the gable has decorative terracotta tiled detailing; all windows are timber sliding sashes with horns, ground and first floor windows have multi-paned upper lights with a single light below (12/1), the canted sides of the bay window have 6/1; 1/1 timber sliding sash to second floor; First floor windows and second floor paired windows have segmental arched heads and a brick relief detail beneath the sill; semicircular arched door opening has brick pilasters with rendered capitals to either side and a rendered moulded archway with a central keystone; plain glazed fanlight over a pair of recessed raised-and-fielded diamond-faced three panel timber doors.

North and South sides are adjoined to neighbouring properties No's 11 & 15 Northland Road (HB01/22/029A/C).

Rear elevation to the East side is of smooth rendered unpainted finish (windows not visible -full access not possible); rear elevation is abutted by a four storey return built at half landing-height; uPVC rainwater goods to rear elevation (where seen).

Rear return is of rendered unpainted finish with rough-cast unpainted finish to East elevation topped by a red brick chimney stack on the gable end with a single terracotta clay pot; North elevation has 1/1 timber sliding sash windows (where seen); rear return steps down to a three storey extension with rendered unpainted finish to walls and a small red brick chimney stack rising from the North side and a single 1/1 timber sliding sash window on second floor level to the East elevation with a circular cast-iron downpipe; both rear return and extension have pitched artificial slate roof covering with terracotta ridge tiles and remaining uPVC rainwater goods.

Two-storey out-building to the rear has exposed concrete block work to right side on ground floor level containing a square headed timber casement window with red brick to remaining elevation with chipped rough-cast render at eaves level; East elevation faces out on rear laneway accessed via Clarence Avenue with a square headed door opening concealed with timber ply and a glazed transom light above with a square headed timber casement window to the right and two above on first floor level; North and South elevations of outbuilding are adjoined to neighbouring property forming a row of outbuildings associated with No's 11-15 Northland Road; outbuilding has a pitched fibre cement roof with black clay ridge tiles and a uPVC circular downpipe to the East elevation.

Setting:
Located on the East side of the Northland Road, on an elevated site with the River Foyle below to the East. Small garden to the front is enclosed by a low rendered painted wall with capping stone and metal railings above. Front elevation faces West forming a terrace row of three three-storey red brick buildings situated on a corner site to the Northland Road and Clarence Avenue.

Roof Artificial salte
RWGs UPVC (Main house) Cast-iron (Rear-return)
Walling Red brick
Windows Timber Sliding Sash

Historical information

Nos 11-15 Northland Road, a terrace of three-storey red-brick dwellings located at the corner of Clarence Avenue, was constructed between 1899 and 1900. The northern expansion of Londonderry had been initiated in the mid-19th century with the construction of Georgian-style terraces on Great James Street, Queen Street and Clarendon Street. Mullin states that Edenballymore and the Northland Road was still rural in character when the Victorian terrace of Crawford Square (HB01/22/003; 004) was constructed in the 1860s-1870s. The expansion of the city was facilitated by a period of economic growth and prosperity that endured from the 1860s until the end of the 19th century. With the opening of Magee College in 1865, a number of new terraced dwellings were constructed in the vicinity including College Terrace (HB01/22/026), Clarence Avenue (HB01/22/006) and Florence Terrace (Mullin, p. 119; Rowan, p. 371). The architect of the terrace is not known with certainty, although Edward J. Toye or Robert Eccles Buchanan may have been responsible as both architects designed contemporary dwellings along the Northland Road between 1895 and 1902 (DIA).

No. 13 Northland Road, as well as No. 15, were constructed in 1900 (the adjoining No. 11 (HB01/22/029A) was built in 1899 and is stylistically different from its neighbours) and were known as ‘Mount Maple.’ The Annual Revisions note that the building was leased by the Trustees of Foyle College and was initially valued at £30. The building was first depicted in plan form on the Annual Revisions Town Plan of Londonderry (c. 1873-1910) which depicted it along its current layout (possessing its rear return and two storey outbuilding to rear). The first recorded occupant of the house was Thomas McCready, a local pawnbroker who operated his business (Thomas McCready & Son) from business premises on William Street (UTD). The 1901 census building return described No. 13 Northland Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of nine rooms and possessed a stable and coal house as its sole out offices. The First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) increased the value of No. 13 Northland Road to £40 and noted that the occupants of the building changed often during the 20th century. In 1947 the house was inhabited by James Logan, a local accountant, but following his death in 1954 the house passed to a Mr. Henry Armstrong who continued to reside at the address until the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72). The value of the house remained at £40 by the 1970s.

No. 13 Northland Road was listed in 1991. The terrace was incorporated into the Magee Conservation Area in 2006. Calley, writing in 2013, described the terrace as ‘three big showy red-brick three-storey, three-bay terrace houses. Nos 13 and 15 are a pair but with varying details which show off their Arts and Crafts pedigree’ (Magee Conservation Area Guide; Calley, pp 290-291).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873-1910)
2. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2A-F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931)
3. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
4. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
5. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
6. PRONI Wills Catalogue (31 Dec 1954).
7. Ulster Town Directories (1901-1918)
8. First Survey Record – HB01/22/029 (1970)
9. First Survey Image – HB01/22/029 (No Date)
10. NIEA HB Records – HB01/22/029B
11. Foyle Civic Trust: Living City Project (The Diamond)

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
2. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970.
3. Mullin, T. H., Ulster’s Historic City: Derry – Londonderry’ Coleraine: Coleraine Bookshop, 1986.
4. ‘Design Guide for Magee Conservation Area’ Department of the Environment, 2010.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A substantial late-Victorian three storey red brick Arts-and-Crafts style townhouse built in 1900, with a large four-storey rear return stepping down to a three storey extension and a two-storey brick outbuilding on the east boundary. No.13 Northland Road is the mid-terrace of a row of three dwellings situated on the east side of the Northland Road between no’s 11 & 15 Northland Road (HB01/22/029 A & C). No’s 13 & 15 were built a year after No.11, as is apparent in the different external detailing. The front elevation retains much of its original character, style and proportions. Fine detailing remains externally such as the decorative terracotta tiled detailing to the tympanum of the gable on the front elevation. The architect of the terrace is not known with certainty, although Edward J. Toye or Robert Eccles Buchanan may have been responsible as both architects designed contemporary dwellings along the Northland Road between 1895 and 1902. Together the three dwellings have group value and the Magee Conservation Area is enhanced by their historical authenticity and presence.